Preface, this is a mess of an article and i apologise, it's difficult to word my thoughts when even i know a fraction of what I should know.
It's long been a lie that demons and angels are purely spiritual creatures. The truth is, there's no reason for them to be active in the same communities as shifters and avians, as our lives are very different.
Awakening as a demon or angel is different than any other, it's not like shifting or seeing wing sprouts. and many tend to deny it for years. I did, for eight full years.
We will not be discussing yokai, although many could fall into demonic or angelic categories.
We follow physics, like all nonhumans, although you could say our existence makes things a little bit.. warped.
I will explain my experiences at the bottom. This article will leave a lot of loose ends as unlike dragons, avians, or mermaids, demons and angels are so so variable.
Demonics fit into four categories. Beast demons, Humanoids, Full demonics, and genetically human.
Before we begin, let me reiterate - Not all demons are evil. Not all angels are good. Each individual varies, you might meet an angel who would kill you, or a demon who acts like a saint.
Beast demons are demons who shapeshift into animals, this category often overlaps with humanoids. Usually once they awaken, many beasts will shift and stay shifted, often killing humans. One notable beast demon took the form of a crocodile and killed around 300 people, known best as Gustave. The Man Eating Lions of Tsavo are another example. Once they decide to permanently stay shifted, their forms can become quite large, meaning they can no longer shift back. The same fate can happen to any shifter who's animal form should be larger than humanely possible (moose, bear, etc.) But shapeshifting alone doesn't make one a beast demon.
Humanoids are a very broad category, they may have human features, ie, a human face or hands, but the rest of them will be very inhuman. Wings, horns, tails, extra arms, extra eyes, you name it. A humanoid demonic may just have wings, and may confuse themselves for an avian, or they may have horns, animalistic ears and tail, and confuse themselves with other beings. Many tend to have horns and fangs, almost stereotypical traits.
Full demonics are very rare, they appear completely inhuman. Think of angels in the bible, spinning masses of eyes, wings, teeth and jaws, unlike humanoids and beasts, it is almost impossible to categorize them as they vary so so much. A Beast I know isn't sure if any of them still roam earth - if they do, they surely aren't making themselves known.
Genetically human demonics often experience sanguinarian vampirism, an additive type. They are human, usually with demonic ancestry. They, like many nonhumans, are typically adept in astral and magickal workings. They cannot shapeshift, they do not have a humanoid form.
Angelics follow similar types. However, they are rarer than demonics. You might presume they're balanced, but I personally have never met one, neither has the older demon I talk to frequently.
Animalistic angelics are shapeshifting angelics. Unlike beasts, they don't usually kill humans. Because of this, notable ones are hard to find - It's much rarer to hear reports of animals helping people, than reports of animals eating people.
Humanoid angelics may have wings, extra eyes, limbs, etc.
Full angelics, picture the angelics talked about in the bible. Very monstrous.
Genetically human, roughly the same as a genetically human demonic, usually minus the common vampirism.
I apologise that the angelic section is so short, but it's difficult to find information that can't be summed up as "Basically the same as a physical demonic but slightly different."
Human misconceptions of demonics and angelics that are complete fiction:
angels are always good, demons are always bad
angels always have white, feathered wings.
angels have halos
demons are fallen angels (some are, majority are not)
angels and demons are opposites.
demons and angels are purely spiritual beings
demons and angels follow human morality
And alas.. my experiences, which may tie up some loose ends or it may create more. I'll answer questions to the best of my ability.
Beasts and humanoids tend to overlap, with many humanoids being able to shapeshift.
Demons and angels have aspects, which can be switched between - for demons, at least for me, my aspects are the seven sins, and appear as a glowing wheel. I can only presume angelics have virtues instead of the sins. For some demons, the more aspects (1-8) is something to gloat about.
There are two "combined" aspects for demonics, these aspects are not true aspects like Sloth or Gluttony, and are rather aspects created by an expression of the self. These two are Witchcraft/Magic and Chaos.
Awakening has multiple stages. You know you are a demon, but you have not yet "unlocked" the ability to physically live as your true form. many shifters see this also, but it isn't exactly comparable as the effects of the unlock seem to be immediate as opposed to working towards controlled shifting.
Blood vampirism is very common in demonics.
Horns, wings, and tail grow upon realization, i get many pains when i tap into my proper energy.
Being blocked seems to be very common, either by a parent or by an entity wishing to stall the second phase of awakening.
Dream smoke is an ability found typically with sloth aspects. it's very fun to emit. think cartoonishly thick, coloured smog expelled from eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. It has a calming, sedative effect and might possibly induce dreams, i have yet to use it on someone.
Many demons have ""past lives"" or, better put, pre-lives in hell, aka their existence before incarnating on earth. Hell is very fun, it isn't fire and brimstone, there's layers.
Eden is in hell, the largest tree in the middle grows blood apples, apples who's juice is instead blood. This sounds so so fake but it isn't and they're a delicacy. The tree feeds on the incredible energy that engulfs Eden, the energy can make most demons go a bit wacky if they stay for too long.
Almost everything you've read about demons is wrong, but you get used to it.
Hell works on using energy of truly evil souls, everything is powered by these, and the souls eternally feel pain. Rest easy knowing Hitler is forever being tortured by having his soul's energy farmed. :>
And that's all, really. Like i said this is a mess as I've only known i'm a demon for about eight months. Still have a lot to learn and a lot to scribe from my intuition.